Boudoir photo shoots are all the rage nowadays; many women are dressing up (or down) in their lingerie and having a professional photographer take their photos. Some do it as a birthday or anniversary present for their husbands; others do it for themselves, to celebrate a milestone such as a weight loss, birthday, or other accomplishment. I recently had some boudoir photos taken for Alfie's birthday, and I can tell you, it was a liberating experience! I got to smile and smolder for the camera, and the resulting photos were amazing. I'm no Victoria's Secret model, but seeing those photos has done wonders for my self esteem.

As you can imagine, posing half-naked in front of a strange man and woman is not easy, but I highly recommend it. Do it for your husband. Do it for your relationship. Do it for yourself! And now that I'm a boudoir photo shoot veteran, I can offer some advice on what to take with your to the shoot in order to make the most of it:

1) Your confidence
Confidence is sexy! No matter what your shape or size, boudoir photos can highlight your best features and showcase that inner bombshell -- so face that camera with a smile on your face and a glint in your eye. Remember that the photographer is a professional, and it's his job to make you look good! He knows all the angles and lighting to get a great shot -- and when all else fails, you can always resort to a bit of retouching!

2) Bedroom eyes and hair

The one regret I have from my photo shoot is that I didn't make a bigger effort on hair and makeup. I rarely wear makeup so I'm not very good at putting it on, and I wish I had splurged a bit on a professional. I was going for the vamp look, so I'm happy I wore bright red lipstick and slicked my hair back, but in retrospect, I would have emphasized my eyes more with false eyelashes. Of course, heavy makeup isn't a requirement -- you can just as easily go with the natural look -- but remember that every bump and pore can be seen in closeup shots!

3) High heels

Sorry, you'll have to leave your Birkenstocks and Uggs at home. For sexy photos, only high heels will do. They add a touch of spice and naughtiness, and they make your legs look like they go on forever. If you're not used to high heels, don't worry; you'll probably be lying down, kneeling or straddling a chair for most of the photo shoot anyway! If you don't own a pair, borrow one or ask the photographer if he or she keeps some spare pairs at his studio . If that doesn't work, go barefoot.

4) Beautiful lingerie

Lingerie is what makes a boudoir photo shoot a boudoir photo shoot! Leave the white cotton panties and bra at home with the Birkenstocks and let your inner sexy shine! I brought 2 outfits with me; one was a black satin bra and panty set, which really added a stark, dramatic look, and the second was a corset outfit similar to this corset and thong set from EdenFantasys:

They have a huge selection of sexy lingerie, from the racy to the discreet, from teddies to pegnoirs to corsets to babydolls to bra and panty sets. Whatever your size, shape, whether you're bold or timid, you'll find the right lingerie for you.

So what are you waiting for? Your inner sexy is waiting to show itself to the camera!

Disclaimer: EdenFantasys, an online retailer of sex toys, lingerie and other adult products, is providing me with a gift card in exchange for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

I did this about a year ago, and I totally agree! It did wonders for my self-esteem and I felt hot and sexy, which is no easy feat after having 2 kids and being in "mom" mindset for years. Good for you! :)

Disclaimer

The opinions expressed on the Bonggamom Finds blog are the personal views of the author; any reviews or recommendations are not intended to constitute medical advice or treatment in any form. In addition, neither the Bonggamom Finds blog nor its author are liable, and cannot be held liable, for any dissatisfaction you may have with the product, sponsor or any injuries that may be caused by use of that product.

Posts on this blog routinely link out to other sites; I am not responsible and cannot be held liable for anything on those sites.

I occasionally receive samples of the products I review on this blog. I also occasionally accept monetary compensation for posts on this site. If and when I receive either product samples or compensation for writing a review post, this will be clearly stated in the body of the review post.